This is also one of the reasons I refuse to use SM for anything other than jokes and the occasional cool link. Too many people are wrapped up in the perceived power of SM to connect with people. I remember I posted a quote my friend said a while back: “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds retweet.” A bunch of people attacked me, saying that RTing is what creates conversation, but it doesn’t. It just adds to the echo chamber. Twitter is actually a tiny community, all things considered, and if you post something like “My heart goes out to Haiti,” and ten people retweet that, what have you done, aside from having your ego stroked? RTing has it’s place, but it’s place is not “spurring conversation.” The same goes for “twibbons” or tinting your icon.

Social media can be powerful. You know this first hand. But social media has largely made a lazy generation more lazy, yet it caused them (me, us?) to have a grossly inflated self-worth. It’s a dangerous combination for the future. People need to get out and actually do things. Staring into your BlackBerry and going to “tweetups” will not change the world.

Anyways, sorry for ranting on your blog. Again, really liked the video. Very welcome distraction from work on a Friday.

“For anyone who thinks a hashtag campaign or a goddamned ribbon helps “raise awareness” for anything more than our own bloated and self-involved sense of self, get over yourself.”

Wow.

I remember being so frustrated at a Third Wednesday in the summer when this topic was being discussed. Social media has created so many evangelists who think that they’re changing the world by telling everyone around them how much they care about things. There’s a great book called Conspicuous Compassion that Merlin Mann blogged about recently. It addresses this exact topic in a very intelligent way.
http://www.kungfugrippe.com/post/267976616/compassion

Anyways, it’s refreshing to actually have someone who works with social media on a daily basis to not be be a social media apologist.

My message is really to those people that think that clicking a button is enough, or that it gives them the right to say they’ve done something.

I didn’t mean to suggest that going down there is the best way to help, because you’re right, it’s really just not an option for most. It’s really about *doing* something tangible, like giving money.

Glad you liked it!

That being said, if social media can be used to mobilize 1000′s, 10’000′s, 1000,000′s, or even 1,000,000′s to participate with micro ($5, $10, $25, …) donations this can add up quickly and offer help on the ground.

In this context I believe social media can both raise awareness, help ensure the integrety of the charity, and raise some serious coin.

Dan…

I think that posting to FB or Twitter is at least more effective than “praying for those affected” – as I’ve seen numerous of these ‘Haiti statuses’ suggest.

Like it or not, opening your wallet is the best thing to do to help. Attempting to send actual clothing, food, building supplies, or other physical things is unhelpful and inappropriate.

And “going there” is not helpful either, unless you have a special skill/trade that is needed such as disaster health care provider or something that is specifically sought out.

Good video post. Thanks for getting me (more) riled up about this than I already am! I hope this post encourages other people do something other than just RT or post awareness raising attempts.

ps. I donated money to Oxfam Canada, my international development aid & relief organization of choice. I never tell, or ask, people to do something without doing it myself first.